Marine turbine



May 26, 1925. 1,539,516

I H. F. SCHMIDT v MARINE TURBINE Filed March v, 1921 INVENTOR ATTORNEY i Patented May 26,1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SCHMIDT, F SWARTHMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, 'ASSIGNOR TO TESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, .A. CORPORATION "OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

MARINE TURBINE.

Application filed March 7,. 1921. Serial, No. 450,239.

To all whom it may concern} Be it known that I, HENRY dent of Swarthmore in the countyof Delaware and State of lennsylvama, have 111- vented a new and useful Improvement in Marine Turbines, of which the following is vpressure unit 9.rece1ves motive fluid from a specification.

My invention relates to a turbine lnsta'l- 1 lation, particularly of the marine type, em-

ploying a plurality of turbine units, and

g has for its object to provide apparatus of the character designated in which substantially equal powers are developed with good 1 efiiciency in each unit at different speeds.

The single figure 015- the accompanying drawing is a'diagramm atic representation of a turbine installation showing my improvements applied thereto.

It is common practice to compound turbines in various ways, both for land-and marine use; however, in marine practice, it is usual to provide a separate turbine for cruising speeds, and, if a plurality of 2 propeller shafts is employed, it becomes a difficult matter to provide an installation in which equal powers and speeds are developed in each propeller shaft. Accordingly, it is the object of my invention to provide a multiple-unit turbine installation in which each unit is connected to a propeller and to, so distribute the motive fluid flowing in series therethrough that equal powers and speeds are developed in each unit, thereby avoiding the necessity of operating-the helm with consequentloss in efficiency, as is the usual practice, when one propeller has greater power applied there to than to the other. 40

F. SCHMID a citizen of the United States, and a res1-,

'Referring'now more particularly to the fluid is expanded in series through the two units in a manner to be morepa'rticularly' hereinafter set forth. The rotors10"and 12- are connected to the propellers 1.8and 19, respectively, by any appropriate means as, for example, reduction gearing 20 and 21. k

The initial impulse section 13 of the highcontrolled by valves 25. After havi its velocity energy fraotionally abstracte by the impulse section '13, motive fluid then flows through the high-pressure andintermediate-pressure full-peripheral admisslon reaction sections 14 and 15 and from the latter into an exhaust casing-26.

The turbine unit 11 receives motive fluid from the exhaust casing 26 through a conduit or receiver passage 27 provided with a controlling valve 28. Beyond the valve .70 28 and adjacent the section 16 of the low-' pressure turbine unit 11, the conduit is divided into a plurality of branchesx29, 30, and 31 discharging at different points along the section 16 in order to build up different back pressures in the exhaust casing 26- as well as to include difl'erentnumbers of rows of blading in series with the high-pressure turbine unit, it being apparent that,since the bladingin section'16 is shorter than that 89' of the last row of the high-pressure turbine unit, a back pressure will be built up in the exhaust casing 26. The branch 29 is connected with the high-pressure end of the'section 16, thebranch 30 is connected '8 5 being appropriately. mani'ulated for that purpose. For high spee operation, the valve 34 is opened and the valves 32 and 33 are closed, the branch 31 being so located with reference to section 16 that a back pressure is built. up in the casing 26 sufv anysuitable means with secondary valves ficient to cause an equaldevelopment; of power by .the turbine units. For an lntermediate speed, the valve 32-is closed, the

. valve 33 is opened, and the valve 34 is speeds of the rotors.

valve 32 is opened and the fvalve 34 closed,-

opened to asuflicient degree to secure equal Fonlow speed, the

thevalve 33 being opened sufliciently to develop equal speedsof the two turbine units. A slightly higher speed than that last. referred to may be secured, with the valve 32open and the valve 33 closed, by opening the valve 34 to-a degree sufiicient to develop equal powers by the two rotors.

The low-pressure unit preferably disi charges into the exhaust. casing 36.

The rotor 10 carries a reversing impulse wheel 40 provided with peripheral buckets adapted to receive motive fluid from an exending nozzle 41, the latter being supplied by any appropriate connection 42 having a controlling valve '43. The fotor 12, in like manner, is provided with a reversing impulse wheel 44 receiving motive fluid from an expanding nozzle 45 supplied by a conduit 46'under the control of a valve 47.

The low-pressure turbine unit 11-is also provided with an independent motive fluid inlet 50 under the control of the valve 51 so that motive fluid 'may be supplied thereto for maneuvering or emergency purposes.

The exhaust casing 26 is connected to the exhaust'casing 36 by means of apassage or conduit 37 under the control of a valve 38,

the valve beingn'ormally closedl'so as to com pel motive fluid to pass in series through the low-pressure turbine unit 11. When run:

the high-pressure connections 24 and 50, the; valve 28 should be closed and the valve 38 opened in order to permit the exhaust from the casing26 to pass-through-the conduit 37 .to the casing 36 and from the latter through the exhaust outlet 39 to the condenser '(not shown). v

t is desirable to have the valves 28 and 38 u erthecontrol of the valves 51, 43', and 47 so that, when any. of the latter valves is.

' opened, the valve 28 is closed and thevalve way' of doing this is. to :have the valves 28;

.38 is opened automatically. One convenient and 38 connected to a common piston 60 arranged within a cylinder 61, the piston bemg normally biased by appropriate means, for example, a spring 62, so as to close the Valve 38 and open the valve 28.

The valves .43, 47, and 51 are connected by 63in the by-pass, motive-fluid conduits 64- 'communicatingwith the cylinder 61 at the end opposite to the spring 62. It is obvious that, when any one of the valves 43, 47, and

51 is opened, a by-pass valve 63 is also opened .and motive fluid passes through a.

conduit 64 to the cylinder 61, forcing the piston over and compressing the spring 62,

"thereby closing the valve 28 and opening the valve 38. The cylinder 61 preferably has a sufliciently loose fit with respect to the rod connecting the Valves 28. and 38 that steam may'escape "therefrom, in order that the spring 62 may function to close the valve 38 and to open the valve 28.

The operation of apparatus embodying invention .is as followsz'For high speed, motlve fluid =1S expanded in one or more oi .the nozzles 23 and the velocity energy thereof is 1 fractionally abstracted in the impulse section 13. Thereafter, the, motive fluid is 'fractionally expanded by the reaction blading in the sections 14 and 15 of the highpressure turbine unit 9, and is discharged into the exhaust chamber 26 from which it passes through the conduit 27 and the branch 31 to the turbine unit 11 and is then further fracti'onally expanded by the included portion' of'the reaction blading of the turbine unit 11. For low speed, motive fluid from the exhaust casing passes through the branch 29 to the low-pressure turbine unit 11. For intermediate speeds, any of the pairs of valves 33 and 34, 32 and 34, and 32 and '33 may be relatively so opened as to secure an equal division of power between the two tur bine units.

- For maneuvering, or in case of emergency,

the valve 51 is opened to supply motive fluid directly to the low pressure turbine, unit 11.

Inorder to operate astern, valves 43 and 47 are opened to supply motive fluid to the astern wheels 40 and 44.

The valves 28 and 38 are so inter-connected with the valves 43, 47 and 51 that it any of the latter is opened motive fluid is Causedto'flow to the cylinder 61 and moves the piston 60 over so as to close valve 28eand open the valve 38. As soon as the valve 7 which has been open is closed, thesupply of motive .fluid to the'cylinder 61 iscut off and the spring 62 automatically functions to move the piston over to close the .valve 38 and open'the valve 28.

From th foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised a compound turbine which is. capable of. operating at different speeds, thereby avoiding the necessity of using a special cruising turbine, and in which there is an equal division of power at different speeds. i

-While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible'of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed'thereupon as 'are imposed by the 'prior art or as are spelengths whereby operation at different speeds with equal division of ower is secured.

2. A turbine instal ation comprising a high-pressure turbine unit, a low-pressure turbine unit having blading at its high-pressure end progressively increasing in length and shorter than low-pressure blading of the high-pressure unit, a conduit connected with the high-pressure unit, motive fluid inlets communicating with the conduit and adapted to discharge to low-pressure blading of different lengths whereby different back pressures at the low-pressure end of the high-pressure unit may be had, and means for controlling the inlets whereby the back pressure is so adjusted as to secure equal division of power between the two turbine units.

31 A turbine installation comprising a high-pressure turbine unit, a low-pressure turbine unit, meansfor conveying motive fluid discharged from the high pressure unit to the low ressure unit, said low pressure unit inclu ing a section having blading shorter than low-pressure blading of the higlnpressure unit, a plurality of motive fluid inlets arranged along said section at such points as to develop such back pressures at the exhaust end of the high-pressure unit that equal divisions of power may be had between the units for operation at difi'erent speeds.

4. A turbine installation comprising a high-pressure turbine unit, a low-pressure turbine unit including a section having blading progressively increasing in, length but shorter than low-pressure blading of the high-pressure unit, means for conducting motive fluid discharged from the high-pressure unit to said section so as to include varying numbers of rows of blading and developvarying back pressures whereby operation at difi'erent speeds with equal divisions of power may be secured.

5. A turbine installation comprising a high-pressure turbine unit, a low-pressure turbine unit including a series of stages having blading progressively increaslng in length but relatively shorter than low-pressure blading of. the high-pressure unit, a conduit connected with the. high-pressure unit, a plurality of motive fluid inlets communicating with the conduit and arranged along said series of stages whereby differentback pressures may be built up, and valves for controlling the inlets whereby different back pressures may be established .and equal divisions of power secured for operation at different speeds.

6. In a turbine installation, a high-pressure unit, a low-pressure unit including a section having blading relatively shorter than low-pressure blading of the high-pres sure unit, a conduit connected 'to the highpressure unit for conducting motive fluid discharged therefrom to said section and including a plurality of branches communicating with the section at different points therealong, and valves in the branches, the branch nearest the low-pressure end of the section operating to so connect the turbine units as to develop full speed with equal power, the branch near the high-pressure end of the section'being so located as to cause the turbine units to develop substantially low speeds and powers and the intermediate branch capable of operating in cona junction with the other branches in order that the turbine sections may develop substantially equal intermediate speeds with equal divisions of power.

7. In a turbine installation, a high-pressure turbine unit including ahead and reversing sections, a low-pressure turbine unit including ahead and reversing sections, connections. for supplying motive fluid to the ahead section of the high-pressure unit, a connection for receiving-motive fluid discharged from the high-pressure unit and conducting it to the high-pressure end of the ahead section of the low-pressure turbine unit. a valve in the last named connection, an independent connection for supplying,

motive fluid to the ahead section of the lowa pressure turbine unit, connections for supplying motive fluid to the reversing sections, valves in the independent connections and the last named connections, and means associated with the independent connection and reversing inlet valves whereby when any of the latter are opened the valve in the connection between the turbine .units is closed.

8. In a turbine installation, a high-pressure turbine unit including ahead and reversing sections and an exhaust casingya low-pressure turbine unit including ahead and reversing sections and an exhaust casing, conduits for connecting the exhaust casin of the high pressure unit with the ahead section of the low-pressure turbine unit and with the exhaust casing thereof, reciprocally operating valves in the con-' duits so that when one valve is opened the other is closed, an independent motive fluid connection for supplying motive fluid to the low-pressure turbine unit, connections for supplying motive fluid to the reversing sec ing of the high pressure unit and the ahead section of the low-pressure unit and open the valve of the conduit between the exhaust casings when any of the valves of said conncctions' are opened. 10

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this first day of March, 1921.

HENRY F. SCHMIDT; 

